Anybody been to Vegas with small kids?

[5ofus]

If I "had" to go to wing a trip to DL and the USA, then I would sacrifice myself too.

Have fun. There is alot to do with children and we filled 5-6 days easily. Definately go to the northern (I think) outlets: the ones with the more upscale brands as these are much much better than the other ones. Great shopping!

I know, the sacrifices we make huh?

Thanks for the tip about the outlets!

 

[emum]

We went in 2008 with the kids who were 3, 6, 7, and 11 at the time. Stayed at the MGM. Kids loved the lions, Rainforest Cafe, Titanic exhibition, M&M store, Bellagio fountains, and inside the Venetian. I loved the shopping. I'm another who has no desire to go back. Also, we had one guy hurl abuse at us for walking through the gaming area of the MGM with the kids. Just lovely. Anyway, the kids have fond memories, and that's what counts. Have fun !

 

[dwelty]

My boys were 10 and 8 when we went. Just be aware that the Treasure Island show is now quite different to what it used to be. Now its more about the scantily clad wenches than pirates!

Wait, where is this show?

 

[ky71]

The TI show is called Sirens and it's been almost the same for a decade! It's often cancelled due to high winds and then the 'pirates' do a meet and greet near the hotel entrance. My kids thought it was great both times.

Comedy magician Mac King is a hoot. Don't buy tickets, go to the area between Harrahs and the Riveria and they give out tickets (you need to buy a drink but that's cheaper than buying a ticket). The show is very kid friendly!

I will post my reply over several posts as it keeps deleting my typing and asking me to re log in...

 

[ky71]

My kids also love the Medival show at Excalibur - Tournamant of Kings. Be warned the meal is served without cutlery and it is not a very kid-friendly meal - a small quail, damper, veges and beer or soft drink. The show is well worth the cost though, we just eat afterwards elsewhere.

Also at Excalibur there is a "Fun Faire" in the 'basement' area complete with a 3D Sponge Bob ride that my younger kids loved. This area is in major need or refurbishment (we last visited in 2011) and the staff are just plain rude but games are Timezone style and an hour of fun. Be warned this hotel is very smoky and you will not leave smelling pleasant.

At Mirage there is a 'Secret Garden' that has dolphins and other animals (tigers, lions etc) set up in a small zoo like display. This is quite expensive and the last time we visited there was better interaction at the FREE MGM lion cub attraction.

More to follow...

 

[ky71]

The outlets stores at mid city are still overpriced in my opinion so we love to visit the 'Premium Outlets' near the airport - they have a character warehouse, osh kosh, gap, old navy, adidas, footlocker, toyworld and many more of our favourites.

Best tip is to join PO online, they will ask your favourite locations, just browse through and tick whichever ones you are likely to travel by, then they send you sale emails etc. No problem for most of the year I just delete them but near to our trip I take notice of special days (extra percentage off plus normal reduced prices). By signing up each time you are visiting the outlets print off a coupon for a free coupon booklet, once you arrive at the outlets go directly to the VIP office and collect coupon book (it will be difficult to walk past all those shops as the office is in the centre).

Prior to arriving you will need to write a list of kids sizes, what you have stored, coming as hand me downs from each child, a copy of their footprint and current shoe sizes etc etc. Leave DH and kids back at hotel pool...this is very important. There are no trolleys available so bring the stroller without the baby! We just buy a laundry hamper on wheels and leave it at hotel once we're done. If you have a rental car you do not need the stroller or laundry hamper to carry your purchases just store them in the car when your arms get too full!

Remember in the USA coupon and coupon go together so as an example on one visit we got $3100 kids clothes at Osh Kosh for $180 and fit my kids for three years! If you spend over $500 in most clothing stores they give further discounts - it's crazy! And my DH was only there once to witness this...see previous rule about leaving at pool...

 

[ky71]

Besides the M&M store we love the Coca Cola store closeby and off strip Ethel's Chocolate Factory too!

At the Venetian hotel there is the gondolas for hire in the canals out front. They are overpriced for a short ride but well worth a once only trip. Madam Tussard's wax museum is also worth a look if you use a coupon for a discount.

The shopping arcade at Planet Hollywood is still themed as Golden Mile from when the hotel was Aladdin's. This hotel is good for eastern market type trinkets. I think Blue Man Group also played here??

At Circus Circus our kids love the Adventure Dome play area - complete with McDonald's icecream treat shop and swinging pirate ship plus the usual arcade games, 3d experiences and permanent carnival type rides. Best to visit here early morning because at nights it becomes a teenage hangout.

 

[ky71]

Stratosphere Tower has attractions for adults and teenagers at the top - forget it , your kids will be left just watching!

Head further downtown on the Deuce bus (very cheap, catch from the strip, many stops, double decker bus is experience itself-lol). Spend an afternoon at Fremont street wandering the shops and watching buskers, trying the flying fox! You can also take a short ride to the Pawn Stars shop shown on the foxtel show. Hang around at Fremont Street until evening when the place comes alive and the overhead nightly light show is shown on the overhead canopy - it's set to music and well worth the wait!

If you are looking for good value food for families - head to the buffet at the Flamingo hotel mid strip. It's well priced, has nuggets! and prawns and doesn't frown about kids. Also visit the Rio off strip (take free bus from Paris) and eat at the World Buffet - like the name suggests almost everything is on offer here and some things are cook to order in front of you. I don't remember pricing but we were here for a conference and received a discount.
Outback Steakhouse near the M&M store is also very kid friendly and well priced.

 

[ky71]

Once upon a time we used a book called "We Do it All Vegas" - they have a website and a huge inch thick book of discounts. This book costs a few bucks but isn't really necessary. Just check out the brochure stand once you get to your hotel or google "Vegas cheap" or "Vegas tips with kids" and all manner of stuff will pop up. What I consider fun or well priced may not suit your family. (We have visited Vegas 7 times with kids aged from 7 months to 15 years. We have plans for 2014 to take our youngest two at ages 15 and almost 9yrs).

 

[ky71]

If you have time go and visit Hoover Dam. The kids will enjoy checking out the movie on how the dam and bridge were built and the views are awesome!

Further on and you can visit the Grand Canyon - several places close by to stop and enjoy the view. Also lots of wildlife that roams freely just off the roads. If you want a tour suited to children check out Pink Jeep tours (just don't tip the recommended $50 per person - that's for tourists-lol).

Your oldest DS and DH may enjoy a quad bike ride at Death Valley (same bike) just check out tour companies online for best reviews.

 

[ky71]

At hotel Tropicana they have seasonal exhibits that are always educational and fun. They also have acrobatic show girls that perform over the main gaming floors - you can walk the kids through around and around to watch. There used to be an illusionist/magician called Rick Thomas who used birds, tigers and a snake in his shows but he left for an tour of Asia. He is expected back this year but I'm not sure which hotel. Make time for this show if it's on.

At the Monte Carlo there is a lazy river and fantastic pool setup. It's for guests only so if you have a choice of hotels - pick this!

At Mandalay Bay they have an aquarium with lots of sharks. My boys think this is very cool as a once only visit. Photos are difficult to get as glass reflects light but they still had fun.

Mirage hotel has the erupting volcano at night each hour? maybe half hour I can't remember. They also have a small shark tank and a great ice cream shop in the hotel.

 

[ky71]

Back a few years my kids enjoyed Fat Tuesdays non alcoholic plastic yard glass beverages on a lanyard. In recent years they have picked up drinks in various hotel's plastic souvenir bottles like the Eiffel Tower and Stratosphere Tower. Fairly cheap and easily portable and best of all refillable! Luckily we have never had room to bring the useless plastic home!

Caesar's Palace hotel has an exciting array of shops at the Forum. Sadly the big Toy store (with the huge Wooden horse) has closed but the Atlantis automated show with King Triton is still there near the Cheesecake Factory. I think the show lasts 10minutes and is on hourly. There is always lots of street entertainment happening at this shopping arcade and out the front you can take photos of the Trevi fountain!

When the kids were younger we stayed at the Luxor and they had fun just riding the free monorail between the three hotels-lol. Luxor has some sort of ancient treasures exhibit on year round that may interest you and the kids but it wasn't free!

New York New York has the roller coaster that is fast, jerky and overpriced. Save your money and spend it at Krispy Kremes in the food court -yum!

At Paris take the Eiffel Tower ride even if its just to get great photos of the Bellagio fountains through the cage wire. Just walk through this hotel and check out the beautiful ceiling paintwork.

 

[ky71]

If you choose to do a night ride of the strip in a helicopter make sure it has a glass bottom so the kids can see out as the side windows were too high in the rear seats for my kids to view anything except the front window. Use a coupon don't pay full price and don't book two tours unless the second one is virtually free!

We had lots of fun taking photos of the various big things on the strip, having photos with famous impersonators (Elvis, Marilyn and the showgirls - be sure to tip first or they will cover their faces at the last minute). We also got some fun photos with the kids spinning oversized poker machines on the street outside (not real gambling just for discount tickets etc).

Boardwalk hotel near NYNY has some fun old fashioned fun fair games and a fun slide that cost very little cash. Inside is tired but staff are engaging and friendly.

 

[ky71]

We love Vegas as you can probably tell and we welcome any change to return there. We have been trying to stay in a different hotel (sometimes several) each time we visit. We do miss the old Sahara hotel and it's Pit Stop Café and speed roller coaster (especially as we now have a car mad child) but otherwise Vegas is constantly evolving and there's always something new to explore (like Mid city we haven't done the monorail there yet or many of the shops and we haven't stayed in the hotel tower there either).

Have fun, plan madly and expect to do just half of what you plan as the heat and walking distances will be overwhelming but I guarantee you'll have a ball.

 

[5ofus]

We love Vegas as you can probably tell and we welcome any change to return there. We have been trying to stay in a different hotel (sometimes several) each time we visit. We do miss the old Sahara hotel and it's Pit Stop Café and speed roller coaster (especially as we now have a car mad child) but otherwise Vegas is constantly evolving and there's always something new to explore (like Mid city we haven't done the monorail there yet or many of the shops and we haven't stayed in the hotel tower there either).

Have fun, plan madly and expect to do just half of what you plan as the heat and walking distances will be overwhelming but I guarantee you'll have a ball.

Your posts have been AMAZING!!!! Thank you so much! I'm going to print them out and go over them with the DH- I've already read out your tip about leaving him at he hotel pool and he's all for it . Really, thank you so much. With all the wedding stuff going on (DH is in the bridal party), I don't know how much free time we will have, but I'll definitely be checking out some of your tips.

 

[kylieh]

My DD10 loves Las Vegas. She asked if we could go back - in unison DH and I said "No, you're too old / young"! She loved Las Vegas heaps - especially the bright lights on both our previous trips - aged 6 and 7 1/2. For the next trip she would be 11 so old enough to work out what's going on

I think pretty much everything has been said - DD did love the Adverturedome and free shows/acts at Circus Circus, I'm assuming their still there. We were slow walkers and needed lots of breaks, on each occasion we were there for 4 days and had no trouble filling out time.